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cayenne503's Reviews (226)
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall: 3.25/5
I have to admit that I saw SO MANY people on TikTok and YouTube gushing about this book, I had my expectations set much higher. All in all I think it’s good but not great. I’d definitely read the next book but I’m not marching down to the bookstore this instant.
I have to admit that I saw SO MANY people on TikTok and YouTube gushing about this book, I had my expectations set much higher. All in all I think it’s good but not great. I’d definitely read the next book but I’m not marching down to the bookstore this instant.
Characters: 2/5
I just don’t like Darrow. He’s arrogant, which I suppose can be written off as him being seventeen…though the implication I got is thatReds literally mature faster so I would have thought he’d be more adult. I don’t feel like he had to struggle for anything he achieved and he had a few too many deus ex machina moments. He doesn’t make any meaningful mistakes so there’s nothing pushing him to grow/change and indeed he ends the book with basically the same attitude as he started.
I just don’t like Darrow. He’s arrogant, which I suppose can be written off as him being seventeen…though the implication I got is that
Setting/worldbuilding: 4/5
I think the universe for this book is really cool. I liked the idea thatthe Reds were kept in control by being tricked into thinking the rest of civilization had t left Earth yet. I liked that the different castes actually have different physical characteristics, almost like divergent evolution .
I think the universe for this book is really cool. I liked the idea that
Plot/Pacing: 3.5/5
The Hunger Games esque rite of passage for golds isn’t super unique but hits all the right notes for that trope. There were a few moments that threw me for a loop (good!) but mostly my expectations as far as plot were met without being exceeded.
Writing: 3/5
You know how in action movies, especially in big fight scenes with a lot of characters, everything will shift to slow motion and the focus will be on the MC but you can still see what’s going on with the other characters in the background? This was like the book version of that. There’s a lot of “this happened then this happened” and you just have to kind of accept it without really seeing it. Especially at the beginning
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Writing is very unpolished and reads too much like fanfiction. Plot too slow, though started with an interesting hook and lore.
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
Horrifying.
I’m no military expert or weapons aficionado so I have no idea how accurate the descriptions of the missiles and warheads are, but it is convincing. The “story” part of this book seems terrifyingly plausible. The effects and aftermath are nightmarish.
I took one star off because sometimes the writing style is repetitive and heavy handed. It doesn’t necessarily detract from the message but it just kind of seems unnecessary. Then again maybe that’s the point.
Overall, very good and informative.
I’m no military expert or weapons aficionado so I have no idea how accurate the descriptions of the missiles and warheads are, but it is convincing. The “story” part of this book seems terrifyingly plausible. The effects and aftermath are nightmarish.
I took one star off because sometimes the writing style is repetitive and heavy handed. It doesn’t necessarily detract from the message but it just kind of seems unnecessary. Then again maybe that’s the point.
Overall, very good and informative.
How does it feel like there’s simultaneously four different plots and also that nothing is happening? Pacing too slow and the tone is too bleak for my tastes.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall: 2.75/5
Started out good but went kind of sideways by the end.
Started out good but went kind of sideways by the end.
Characters: 3/5
The main character strikes me as a little bit of a Mary Sue. Not completely but enough that the plot armor is noticeable. The side characters are ok, the main antagonist was decent.
The main character strikes me as a little bit of a Mary Sue. Not completely but enough that the plot armor is noticeable. The side characters are ok, the main antagonist was decent.
Setting/worldbuilding: 4/5
Unique take on the dystopian patriarchy. I thought the reveal aboutthe magic being mass hysteria caused by the poisoned well was a nice touch.
Unique take on the dystopian patriarchy. I thought the reveal about
Plot: 2/5
When it stopped being a survival story and turned into a romance it got pretty boring. It picked back up at the end when they go home, but the very last scene made me eye roll hard. Too many cliches and tropes for my taste.
When it stopped being a survival story and turned into a romance it got pretty boring. It picked back up at the end when they go home, but the very last scene made me eye roll hard. Too many cliches and tropes for my taste.
Writing: 2.5/5
It’s fine but not amazing. I think the message the author was trying to impart came across as pretty heavy handed at times.
It’s fine but not amazing. I think the message the author was trying to impart came across as pretty heavy handed at times.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A fun mystery story and a quick read. Solid mid-tier entry in the series. There were a few literal laugh out loud moments that I enjoyed, yet overall it keeps the same tone as the previous books.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall: 2.25
It has is moments, but there was more that I disliked about this book than I liked. I think the little preview blurb is misleading. It makes it sound more like an adventure than a romance-lite.
It has is moments, but there was more that I disliked about this book than I liked. I think the little preview blurb is misleading. It makes it sound more like an adventure than a romance-lite.
Characters: 1/5
I low key hated all the characters. The narrator is so annoying with her inability to decide what she wants.
I low key hated all the characters. The narrator is so annoying with her inability to decide what she wants.
Setting/worldbuilding: 3/5
Maybe it’s inevitable given that this book is set multiple generations after the zombie apocalypse but I felt like there was so much more lore and world building that could have happened.
Maybe it’s inevitable given that this book is set multiple generations after the zombie apocalypse but I felt like there was so much more lore and world building that could have happened.
Plot: 1.5/5
The skeleton of the plot is really very basic. I think probably 80% of the story was just the narrator pining over one of the boys or the ocean. Take away those elements and this is a really short book. Some of the action scenes were very exciting and heart pounding. I really did not care for the romance-ish aspect of the book.
The skeleton of the plot is really very basic. I think probably 80% of the story was just the narrator pining over one of the boys or the ocean. Take away those elements and this is a really short book. Some of the action scenes were very exciting and heart pounding. I really did not care for the romance-ish aspect of the book.
Writing: 3.5/5
I think the author has above average prose and is really good at poetically articulating the narrators thoughts. Some of the dialogue is terrible though.
I think the author has above average prose and is really good at poetically articulating the narrators thoughts. Some of the dialogue is terrible though.
Nearly 25% into the story and just waiting for something to happen. We got the briefest taste of action in the prologue and then it’s just flashbacks to the characters talking. Too slow for my taste.
The writing style is not for me. The mixture of past and present tense is frankly distracting, and the repeated use of the word “fam” in such a short time frame just irked me.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: 4/5 Very good, looking forward to the next one.
Characters: 3/5
The POV character is a 5/5 but everyone else feels a little one dimensional. I kept losing track of which supporting characters were which.
The POV character is a 5/5 but everyone else feels a little one dimensional. I kept losing track of which supporting characters were which.
Setting/worldbuilding: 4/5
As an alternate-history Earth (yes I’m counting the space ship as Earth) I think there’s only so much that could have been done in this department. The fictional differences to real history are well developed.
As an alternate-history Earth (yes I’m counting the space ship as Earth) I think there’s only so much that could have been done in this department. The fictional differences to real history are well developed.
Plot: 5/5
As with book 1, I was constantly on the edge of my seat. The pacing is excellent with a great balance between “character” scenes and “action” scenes. Completely unintentionally I read the second half of the book in a single day. I already have book 3 on my shelf and I’m considering starting it the same day.
As with book 1, I was constantly on the edge of my seat. The pacing is excellent with a great balance between “character” scenes and “action” scenes. Completely unintentionally I read the second half of the book in a single day. I already have book 3 on my shelf and I’m considering starting it the same day.
Writing: 4/5
Easy to read, no wasted words, and constantly moving forward.
Easy to read, no wasted words, and constantly moving forward.